Grain cleaner and separator.



PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

T. M. BALES. GRAIN CLEANER AND SBPARATOR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1907.

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PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

, 1 T. M. B'ALES.

GRAIN CLEANER AND SEPARATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1m: NORRIS PETERS co., wnsmrvcr u, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

GRAlN CLEANER AND SEPARATOR- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed February 14, 1907. Serial No- 85'7,408.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs M. BALES, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of' Dublin, in the countyof Nayne and State of Indiana, have made a certain new and usefulInvention in Grain Cleaners and Separators; and I declare the followingto be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of theupper end of the screen box. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the upperend of the riddle box Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section (fragmentary)of the riddle. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the roller supportfor the lower end of the screen box. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional viewof a supporting link for the lower riddle box, showing its means ofconnection with the fan casing and riddle boxes.

The invention relates to grain cleaners and separators, having for itsobject the provision of an eflicientmachine of simple and economicalconstruction, and which will be light in weight.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations ofparts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, the letter adesignates the upright supports or frame bars two of which are providedat each side, connected by brace boards I), at the top. Fitting withinthe supporting framework so formed is the hopper 0, having an adjustablegate 0, which is moved by any suitable device, shown in the present caseas a cam lever 0 bearing upon a cross bar 0 connecting boards 5, andsuch cam lever having a fulcrum connection 0 with the gate. d is the fancase, located within such framework and having its bottom wall extendedto form the lower wall of the blast chamber throat. The upper wall ofsuch throat is formed by a windboard 6 having its front end pivoted tothe side walls of the blast chamber, adjacent to the rear of the fancasing, such board terminating at its other end substantially in linewith the corresponding end of the lower wall aforesaid.

and being adjustable toward and away from such lower wall to regulatethe intensity of the blast. The adjustment of the said board 6 iseffected by means of a set screw connection 6 having engagement with thewalls of an arcuate slot in the side wall, a washer 6 being provided forsuch set screw.

fis a riddle upon which the grain is delivered from the hopper, suchriddle being of metal or wood of about one fourth inch in thickness andhaving perforations f which are of proper size to admit of the passageof grains of wheat or the like. A cover 9 is provided for the riddle,such cover having its lower surface spaced from the riddle by about onequarter of an inch, forming a run-way or passage h, leading out at therear of the machine. A grain board i is located below the riddle, suchriddle, cover, and grain board being connected together by side pieces2', for connection of vibratory mechanism. The grain is delivered fromthe grain board upon an upper non-perforated extension j of the screenbox 9', carrying two screens, as shown, although the number is notessential. The riddle and screens are inclined in opposite directions asis customary, and the upper screen rises at its upper end to about on aline with the lower wall of the throat of the blast chamber, or a trifleabove the same, where a transverse bar is provided, to which the screensmay be fastened at their upper margins. This-bar carries a transverseseries of attenuated projections or pins 7c arranged in a zig- Zagmanner, such pins being nearly vertical, as shown, or at right angles tothe upper surface of the transverse bar. Beyond the se ries ofprojections 7c is the extension 7', shown as having a smoothuppersurface on a line with the upper screen and projecting about four inchesin rear thereof, where it is provided with a transverse guard plate, Z,having slots and screws m, for vertical adjustment, whereby said guardplate may be raised to project above the upper surface of such extensionto a limited degree. The lower end of the screen box is supported by aroller a carried by a bracket n, having a slot and set screw connectionwith transverse frame bar n ,'for vertical adjustment, whereby the lowerend of the screens may be raised or lowered to alter the inclinationthereof, the screen box being supported at its upper end by a transverserod 0, engaging at its ends the ICO IIO

links 1), pivoted to the side walls of the fan casing at g, and havingan upper pivoted connection with the riddle box at p.

The riddle box is supported at its lower en by its connection with links1), and at its upper end is supported by a transverse lever t, rulcrumedat one end to the fan casing at t, and having at its opposite end apitman connection t with a wrist pin upon pinion u, meshing with largegear Wheel '0, having a crank connection at w, for operation by hand.

Upon turning the crank, the lever tthrough its intermediate pivotalconnection with the riddle box at t, will vibrate such box, whichthrough the links 1) at each side, will vibrate the lower screens.

The throat of the blast chamber is substantially horizontal and deliversthe blast upon the upper non-perforated extension of the screens,through the transverse zig-zag series of stop pins or wires, and uponthe transverse guard plate, whence it passes out above the screens. Noblast whatever is delivered upon the riddle, but passes below the same.

The riddle is designed mainly for the separation of grains of wheat fromoats, which is commonly difficult, and requires an upper series of chaffscreens, as well as a lower series of screens. In the present case thegrain of oats being longer than the height of the space between theriddle and its cover, cannot stand on end to get through theperforations of the riddle, which is sulliciently thick to prevent agrain of cats from going through the same on an incline, as shown indetail in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

By providing a substantially horizontal blast delivered upon the upperextension of the screen provided with my special guard devices, allcockle, sticks, straw, and foreign matter are separated from the grain,without the necessity of providing an upper series of chaff screens andmeans for directing a lifting draft upon the same. The machine is thusmade more economically, and is much lighter, saving freight intransportation, at the same time being more simple in its construction,and less likely to get out of order.

In the separation of wheat or the like from oats, the oats pass throughthe run-way or passage it above the riddle, being aided by the vibratorymotion of the riddle, and out at the rear end of the machine, where asuitable receptacle may be provided to receive them. The wheat passesthrough the riddle and drops upon the non-perforated extension of thescreen, being blown against the guard plate Z, where it collects to acertain extent and remains for a sullicient space of time, for thecockle, and other light impurities to be blown over the top of the guardplate. After this temporary stoppage, the wheat passes down theextension j, being aided by the vibratory motion of the screens, and anysticks I ass aces or straws therein contained, and which are diflicultof removal, are halted by the transverse stop pins, and are turnedparallel to such series or sidewise, exposed to the full force of theblast, which readily blows them out over the guard plate.

The lower end of the screen box when raised by adjustment of the rolleraforesaid, renders the inclination of the screens less, whereby anexcess of sticks'and other impurities may be more readily blown out. Byraising the guard plate to about one half inch above the upper surfaceof the extension 7', grass seed may be readily separated from chaff andother light stuff. Ordinarily for separation of wheat from oats, thisguard plate is raised but about one-eighth of an inch, a very slightraise only being required.

The roller upon which the screen box rests, makes the machine workeasier,and reduces wear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a grain cleaner and separator, thecombination of a hopper, an inclined screen, having an upper smoothsurface extension provided with a transverse vertically adjustable guardplate at its upper end, and a transverse zig-zag series of stop pins atits lower end between the same and the screen, means for delivering thegrain from the hopper upon said smooth surface extension, a fan casinghaving a throat adapted to deliver the blast upon said smooth surfaceextension of the screen, a fan in said casing, and means for vibratingthe screen.

2. In a grain cleaner and separator, the combination of a hopper, ariddle upon which the grain is delivered from the hopper and havingmeans in connection therewith for separating oats from grain of rounderformation, said riddle having a grain'board below the same, a screenhaving an upper smooth surface extension upon which the grain isdelivered from said grain board, said extension having a transversevertically adjustable guard plate at its upper end, and a transversezig-zag series of stop pins at its lower end between the same and thescreen, a fan casing having a throat adapted to deliver the blast uponthe smooth surface screen extension, a fan in said casing and means forvibrating the screen and riddle.

3. In a grain cleaner and separator, the combination of a hopper, ariddle of about one fourth inch in thickness upon which the grain isdelivered from the hopper, said riddle having a cover separatedtherefrom by about one fourth inch, and a grain board, a screen havingan upper smooth surface extension upon which the grain is delivered fromsaid grain board, said extension having a transverse verticallyadjustable guard plate at its upper end, and a transverse zig-zag seriesof stop pins at its lower end between the same and the screen, a fancasing having a throat adapted to deliver the blast upon the smoothsurface screen extension, a fan in said casing and means for vibratingthe screen and riddle.

4. In a grain cleaner and separator, the combination of a hopper, aninclined screen having an upper smooth surface extension provided with atransverse vertically adjustable guard plate at its upper end, and atransverse Zigzag series of stop pins at its lower end between the sameand the screen, means for delivering the grain from the hopper upon thesmooth surface screen extension, a fan casing having an extension of itslower wall forming the bottom wall of the blast throat, a Wind boardhaving a hinged connection at one end thereof adjacent to the fan casingand forming the upper Wall of such throat, said blast throat beingadapted to deliver the blast upon the smooth surface screen extension, afan in said casing, and means for vibrating the screen.

5. In a grain cleaner and separator, the combination of a hopper, aninclined screen having an upper smooth surface extension provided with atransverse vertically adjustable guard plate at its upper end and atransverse zig-zag series of stop pins at its lower end between the sameand the screen, means for delivering the grain from the hopper upon thesmooth surface screen extension, a fan casing having a throat adapted todeliver the blast upon the smooth surface screen extension, a fan insaid casing, and means for vibrating the screen, and means for alteringthe inclination of the screen, with relation to the direction of theblast.

6. In a grain cleaner and separator, the combination of a hopper, aninclined screen having an upper smooth surface extension provided with atransverse vertically adjustable guard plate at its upper end, and atransverse zig-zag series of stop pins at its lower end, means fordelivering the grain from the hopper upon the smooth surface screenextension, a fan casing having a throat adapted to deliver the blastupon the smooth surface extension of the screen, a fan in said casing,means for vibrating the screen includ ing a transverse rod upon whichthe screen is supported at its upper end, and a vertically adjustableroller upon which the screen rests at its lower end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. BALES.

I IVitnesses WILLIAM GRIESINGER, JOHN C. DODSON.

